In My (not so humble) Opinion...

It's placement season at Alliance Business School for my batch...

After lot of deliberate thinking, being choosy, showing some attitude and after getting over my laziness, I applied for a famous 5 star hotel that had visited my campus (along with a surprise of 3 more colleges taking up the competition from 63 to 300 :O)

Anyway, bein my first interview, I was predictably anxious and a li'l nervous for the fact that I have given only 4 interviews so far and all were during my grad college placements at K.C. College, and got selected in Accenture (though i didn't take my offer letter and "unfornately" decided to come here). However, this was going to be my first management interview (if at all i cleared the preliminary rounds and all that shit)

OK, coming to the point. The Hotel's management who were supposed to come for the interview were late by 2 hours and so we had a break after spending an eternity in the seminar hall. As expected, once it was announced that the company will be coming a little later, I decided to go to my room to get freshen up and come back in a better, relaxed mood.

Alas, it wasn't going to be.

I met an ex-group mate, a person who doesn't really know what should be spoken where. Anyway, as i was on my way to my room and I saw her, as a matter of habit I waved my hand in a salaam and was about to leave. (why i did that..???). But no...bang came the questions!

Group mate - "Kunal, tumne bhi apply kara hain?" (Kunal, did you also apply for Hotel *****)

Me - "haan, meri pehli company where i am applying" (yeah, my first company....)

GM - But why?

Me - Huh?

GM - I mean, you're not for this company.

Me - Why so?

GM - I mean, I always thought you were for a cubicle sort of a thing, an office kind of guy. you are fit for some software engg thingy and should apply for those IT companies only!

Me - oh really???.. thanks for the motivation just before the interview...

GM - oh no no, i didn't mean that. i Just said it. It's my opinion. Best of luck. I am sure you'll get selected. (grin)

wow! That's what I was told just before my interview. Imagine. That in her opinion I am not eligible for a hospitality industry (the reasons - i don't socialize with many people for the sake of it, i don't go to parties where alcohol will be inevitable cos me being a non-drinker and other stuffs) And ya, I dont look good and handsome and fit for a 5 star hotel.

I let it go so as not to ruin my day. But the same thing happened when another ass-hole who has a habit of commenting on every damn thing even if he has got nothing to do with anything. He shares his name with the future prime minister of India (from Indian national Congress and the "baba" of politics these days)

He met me and his question (in Gujarati) - "Tu ***** ma bese che? pan mhane lagyo aa tara mate nathi. tu toh mothi company ma apply karwanu toh ne?"

(You sitting for this company? but i thought you are not fit for it. You were gonna sit for some big company na?)

I snapped at him. And with the anger went whatever li'l confidence I had mustered for the interview. As you can predict, I was not selected. I knew I was never was going to...but then, I lost in the most basic question - "tell me about yourself". I went blank, stuttered and finally said some shit ending up sounding like the biggest loser of the 12 candidates in the room!!!

the only lesson i learnt was - not to come across anyone for my next interview. and secondly, i will have to ask these "experts" if i should sit for any other company!!

I remember the quote from the movie - Home from holidays (1995) -

"Opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks."

Bythe way, that's my opinion too!! :D

Adios,

Kunal

P.S.: Please never interrupt anyone before his/her interview. It's a request! If you can't say good luck, then it's better you keep your effin' mouth shut! And this is my first and last post with the swearing. Sorry, but had to get the frustration out :D

The white clouds!

Was walking back to the hostel after a bite of some "aalu parathas" from the little stall outside my college campus. Actually, Stalin wanted to eat something for lunch, and since i had nothing to do (as usual), I decided to join him. Was having a "cutting" in my hand, and while taking a small sip, i looked up at the sky - to see the setting sun and the reddish-orangish lit clouds in the blue background, a familiar sight in the winter evenings.

However, I was surprised to see a contrast of colors in the clouds. The clouds under which I was walking was dark, with no light, while a few steps ahead were bright white clouds with the blue sky lit up behind it.

I felt some kind of an amazement. I felt like I was walking under a dark cloud, a time of hardships, pessimism and loneliness that has gripped me and would eat me alive. I thought this is how my life has (or had) become for such a long time. But still I continued to walk. My eyes were not on the dark clouds but on the white ones. The ones that were ahead of me and calling me. I swear one of them was in the shape of arms spread out to take me out of the darkness and bring me to happier times. I felt an excitement surge through my chest and I almost sprinting to reach out to those white clouds (i am lying, i was walking briskly that's it), trying to run away from my despairing life to a life of optimism and faith and hope. I reached under the sky, stood there for a minute, smiled to myself and felt the breeze around me....

This was just a small incident, nothing significant or nothing about to be blogged. but yet, it was something unusual, something like the nature itself tells us that whatever is the situations, you'll always find light ahead. There is always going to be some way that will lead you to the kind of life you desire. And everybody wants a happy life, isn't it. Only the definition of happiness differs. But whatever it is, the only thing that you have to look out for is the one white cloud that will guide you..guide you to happiness, to love, to faith and to one thing that will always be yours...yourself..your true self.

That's when we'll find freedom - when we'll forget about the black cloud hovering above us and look ahead to the white clouds that are a few steps ahead. the only thing that will decide how quick we reach them, is the speed we decide to run towards it. It's our heart that decides whether we choose -the black clouds or the white ones!

Adios,

Kunal

Google Chrome, extensions and me..

I finally started what I like doing....Customizing.

This time it's my browser and it's not Firefox (FF). Though i feel horrible for switching from FF, but it has become suckier (if that's a word) than before. Almost like IE. Hell, I have made people switch from IE to FF by the dozens. But, like it's said all good things must come to an end! :(

I switched to google chrome after ranting about it not being as fast as it claims to be on many occasions. I always wanted to blame Chrome for not being better than FF cos

1) it had no add-ons

2) I "knew" it works faster only for google's sites and its affiliated ones

3) I was under the "Halo effect"of FF

However, Google chrome did what i had been waiting for. It launched add-ons and extensions like FF. and i got the chance to customize and compare both the browsers again. (the extensions and add-ons are available in the beta version and not the stable one...you'll have to install the beta version for trying these...Chrome beta available here)

And what i see is, Chrome is MUCH better than FF (so far, i am not sure if it will sustain..even FF lost the sense trying to get more add ons and speed and ended up losing on both)

Here are the list of extensions I am currently using

1) Gmail Checker Plus - No need to go to gmail.com. You get a list of all you new emails and also a preview in the window you are using. Nice updates and all the options like archiving, deleting, spamming, etc in the embedded window.

2) WOT - I was waiting for this one for a long time. Web of Trust is an excellent site which provides you results about how safe a site is. I was a fan of this on FF and now its on Chrome too.

3) AdThwart - Blocks unnecessary ads on the websites. Heaven!!!

4) Aviary - Screenshots of the webpage and editing online. IT's pretty cool Though I am not sure if the privacy-maniac people will like it. You can capture images as and when you want from others' profiles on any of the social networking sites (it's also done by the snipping tool available in Windows Vista)

5) Chrowety - By far the most amazing extension i have seen on FF or Chrome. It allows you to see your tweets in an embedded pop up with alerts and constant updates. You can do all the actions from a small window without going to the site or using any other API for twitter.

6) RSS feeds - Chrome never had any support for RSS feeds and now it has several. I use three of 'em. Google reader Plus (customizing google reader), Chrome reader (to get the RSS feeds from the blogs and sites) and Google Reader Notifier(as the name suggests, to let me know if there are any new posts available)

7)Easy youtube Downloader - :)

8) Inline search and lookup - for getting information from various sites like Wikipedia, Answer.com, or dictionaries about a word or term i find on the sites. It again grabs and shows the information in an embedded window. You dont have to go to a new tab.

9) Vocabbi - Online dictionary and translator. It's pretty cool. Trust me.

10) Feedly – A RSS reader which organizes your RSS feed in an amazing format.

Most of these extensions are so useful as I can pretty much work from ONE browser window and 2-3 tabs and still get to do all my surfing activities without switching between tabs or other 3rd party apps.

The incredible thing about this is - Chrome still loads much faster than FF even after like 13 extensions installed. Though some of these extensions are available for FF as well, it's the speed that acts as the Point of Difference (POD) for Chrome. And again, the loading time for FF is like 5 times more than chrome...you get my point? It's light, fast and pleasure to use.

I pray that Google don't get carried away and keep the interface clean just like it is now. If at all, it goes the FF way of trying to please all the users, I'll have to look for a new browser (which i doubt will be available to compete against Chrome)

There are a few more which sync all Gmail, wave, voicemail, and reader in ONE button. Though you cant get previews, you ll get to know if there is any new update available.

I am still searching for some nice extensions and if you get any, let me know.

Adios,

Kunal

P.S.: These are the extensions that i am using and found useful. Some may work for others while some may not...there are other Google chrome extensions for social networking sites. Try them!!

FF i'll miss you.

Stalin's New post and my thoughts!!!

One of the bloggers from my college, Stalin Mohanty, has a penchant for writing simple yet amazing thoughts and can lead the reader to think about the realities of life. Though he sticks to marketing and other related topics, his one of the recent posts really triggered my thought process and made me comment on the post.

The original post and comment can be read here

I am re-posting the post and MY comment here too.

Stalin's Post -

Deepak: Stalin, you did not wish me on my birthday
Stalin : Oh, i am so sorry. Your birthday just went right.
Deepak: Anyways you forgot. That's the truth
Stalin : Why you removed your birth day stauts from Orkut
Deepak: I was just checking who were wishing without knowing it from Orkut, but i was expecting your call.
Stalin : I am really sorry. Belated happy birthday.

This is a part of my conversation with my friend Deepak two days after his birth day. No body can deny the fact that we are used to web,internet and social networking sites now a days. I can even say that we are totally dependent on internet. Previously we have to remember so many things , but now no need. On social networking sites friend's,relatives birth day keep coming and we simply by watching that wish them. But if someone will hide his/her birth day status, then we will not be able to wish him/her. There comes the problem. The person who may be expecting your wish will definitely feel bad. Because emotion plays a very crucial role in every human's life. Unintentionally we will keep hurting our beloved persons. What can i term this fault of human or technology?

MY comment -

What was the last time we left our room without our mobile phone!?
What was the last time we spent an entire day without checking our emails?
what was the last time we had a "real" conversation with out loved ones!

There are many such questions one can ask him/herself and get into an introspection mode without getting any answer. The worst part is, we don't feel guilty of losing out on our human touch today. We feel "illiterate" if we do not have the knowledge of the latest social networking site. Most of us have 200+ friends on Orkut and Facebook. But how many will come to us when we need. If someone doesn't poke us on Facebook or send an Application request for a long time, we ignore him 'cos he's ain't a friend of us anymore. This is the reality of our life today.

I have altered the definition of Friends as - A contact whom you prominently see on your social networking profile list. That's it. There ain't no real friends no more. Many of you might disagree, but think of the time you last forgot everything else - your cell, smses, mails, and just sat down and let your heart out to a person.

We have become skeptical of humans. We find solace in playing Farmville. We get the kick by playing Mafia wars. But we do not have the time to remember our friends' birthdays. Technology empowers us to gain knowledge, but imprisons us in it's claws.

Nice post Stalin. Keep it up.

What I find is that we have slowly detached ourselves from others. But that's not the core of the problem. The problem is we are detached from our true self too. It is not the fault of anyone but us.


Regards,
Kunal

John Galt's Oath...

No posts since a long time....nothing interesting (or sad) to write about :D

So i thought to put in something - a quote which people have read in my gmail status msg and appreciated!

The quote is again from an Ayn Rand book, Atlas Shrugged. The main protagonist John Galt's oath and one of the most important messages that could be take from the book.

The Oath...

“I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.”

So simple. So true. And please don't argue - what about your parents, family, friends, loved ones etc.

For what I see is that unless you think about yourself clearly, you can't think about anyone, you can't live for them. Actually speaking, you shouldn't. If you do, your living doesn't make sense. If you think you'll make someone happy by living their way it won't be. You'll be unhappy by not fulfilling your desires - and if the person truly loves you, s/he will not be happy to see you in any trouble (emotional or physical). Secondly, if you bring in discussion great people like Mother Teresa and Gandhiji and Nelson Mandela - their living for others was also a part of their selfish need (no disrespect meant, I revere all three) - the selfish motive of being happy in seeing others happy.

We pretend to be living for our loved ones, then why is such misery, so many worries around? Shouldn't there be love and peace when everyone lives for others here (or so everyone claims). It's not we ignore anyone, it's just a matter of being able to identify what you are, what you care for. Once you know this, you'll see how things change.

The oath is not that one SHOULD follow, but if everyone can follow even a tenth of it, I guess the world would be much better. Vague thoughts, but it's just my interpretation.

I hope I soon get something to write...I am getting rusty! :)

Regards,

Kunal

Some promises!

I have to admit - I've got better responses to my last post than I had thought. Though nobody was free enough to comment on the post but they responded in chat windows or while talkin'.

One thing all of 'em agree (me too) that my posts are pretty sad and depressin'. One of 'em even told me not to post him any link again if the posts are in the same "blue" writing. He wants happy posts and would love to read them (dude, I would be more than happy to write "happy" posts than you would be to read them)

Anyway, in one of my earlier posts I had mentioned I wont write anything sad. And I have stuck to my promise. If you see my earlier poems they are depressin' with a capital "D" whereas my new one is based on optimism that I'll be happy now and move on to explore my new life (or whatever you think)

Well, I am just startin' to understand somethin'. So I decided when I was in the process of receiving comments that I'll do 2 things:

1) To stop my sarcastic comments(people who know me will also know that it is really difficult for me)
2) To concentrate more on myself than others - what others do, think and project. (this is more difficult than the first one)

I have given myself a time period, till my birthday, and I hope to achieve it till then.

I still have time. I want to achieve it.

That'll be the day when I'll be able to justify my blog title. If I couldn't then I'll change it (that'll hurt)

So expect some hard hitting, realistic but positive posts from Kunal now.

Adios.

Kunal Lodha

PS: one more thing I wanna do is to keep my posts shorter. It's the most difficult thing. I have difficulty in cutting words when writin'!

Movin' on!

It wasn’t easy,

Oh it never was!

I’ve wasted 3 years, fighting for a lost cause…

Finally have understood somethin’, should’ve known that long back…

When I was thrown out like a rug-o-sack,

But whatever it is, whatever it was, I have decided to move on..

We’ll meet someday again, but not as friends…

‘Cause ...

Have turned away, left the past behind...

Stopped seekin’ FRIENDS I know I’ll never find...

Movin' on - this is my END!

It is no one to be blamed but me,

You all were a part of my fantasy,

I have never been good, I have always faulted

I have always clung on to you, when you never wanted…

Finally I have learned my lesson, I promise not to repeat,

Guys so long, I’ll not bother you again, ‘cause

Have turned away, left the past behind...

Stopped seekin’ FRIENDS I know I’ll never find...

Movin' on - this is my END!

Those were some great days, I thoroughly enjoyed them,

Some moments of ecstasy, fun and a few of shame,

I was rude, selfish, and a big time bore…

You always gave me love, but I kept askin’ for more..

Without givin it back, what was I thinkin’,

Oh! May be ‘cause I was smitten by someone, I hold on to her clingin’,

She never really liked me, I remained in hallucinations,

I suffered a lot, not ‘cause of her, but of me,

I shouldn’t have done some stuff I did,

But now,

Have turned away, left the past behind...

Stopped seekin’ FRIENDS I know I’ll never find...

Movin' on - this is my END!

I apologize for the moments, I gave y’all trouble,

Had a lot of dreams, but reality has burst that bubble…

I always wished, if the time turns back, there are mistakes I’ll rectify ,

But now I don’t wanna do that, I’ll just say goodbye…

I had many complaints, but have realized they were all with me,

So please guys for once accept my apology, and……

Finally,

Have turned away, left the past behind...

Stopped seekin’ FRIENDS I know I’ll never find...

Movin' on - this is my END!

Adios,

Regards,

Kunal Lodha

A-pathetic Mumbai ?

I love Mumbai. If not for the humidity, I can never think of leaving Mumbai. Ever!

But then no city is perfect - we have terrorist attacks after every six-seven months (we're used to it - the "power" of being a Mumbaikar), we have lots and lots of people (and no infra), no water, too much sweat and body odor, the largest slum, Raj Thakerey and many such small problems (Oops! I like Raj Thackerey...I swear!)

But we also have the "Mumbai" value of being safe (minus the bomb attacks - compared to other cities), and helpful. That is not what I saw few days back. I saw an old man being humiliated, dragged on the station by some hooligans and I, along with many others, watching "helplessly"!

Here's what happened. I was getting late for the office where I am doing my interns and I missed the Bhayander Local of 8:25 am(that starts from bhayander and is supposed to have less crowd and more comfort ). Standing on the other platform I was waiting for another train which was coming from Virar (the train comes on the bhayander platform at 8:21) and I was waiting for it because I did not get the chance to enter the local (so much for comfort, Ha!). The train came and i saw a group of people standing on the gate blocking it so that no one from Bhayander enters it. You must be wondering why! This is because we have a local at 8:25 and so we should not enter in any other train at that time - this is the mentality of the train travellers!

I saw this and backed out. I know there was no chance for me to enter in it. But then i saw an old man in his 50s trying to fight through the group and enter the train. The result he got in an altercation with the gang. And he tried to hit one of them with his bag (his mistake, i agree). That was all that was needed for those goondas. One of them grabbed the bag, the other grabbed the old man by wrapping his arm around his neck and waitied for the train to start. nobody! NOBODY (in caps) came to help him...not even me!

The train started and the old man was dragged almost 10-15 steps before the guy let loose of his neck. they threw his bag and shouting obscenities they left - enjoying one more day! (i wonder, if the old guy might have lost his balance and fell between the gap between the platform and the train - God knows what would have happened)

And now comes the best part - all others watching the drama now came down and started shouting and abusing and making plans to take revenge of the oldy's humiliation (which i know are just talks - total bullshit some of it!). the next train came and everyone went back to their offices talkin about this to their colleagues and may be adding that they must have fought and kicked some asses, etc!

I really felt bad that day, i still do. And the thing that makes it worse is that we have grown to this humiliation now. It doesn't bother 90% of us. Has Mumbai lost those values due to the constant terrorist attacks and have become immune to all these, or are we just so busy and so much money oriented now that a human's life is no lonfer important to us! ?

I just hope it doesn't happen again - atleast not in front of me!

Adios.

Regards,

Kunal Lodha

CONGRESS-tulations!!!!

I am late! I KNOW!!!

But anyway, that doesn't stop history. And this time it's Congress that has done it. In the last 15 years no other political party has emerged as the single largest party in the world's largest democracy. And thanks to the clean image of Manmohan Singh (no sarcasms) and the grass root level work done by Rahul baba ( i doubt - the media hyped the "tours" a lot in the last phase of the elections) and ofcourse the mother of all - Sonia Gandhi. The best part of the election campaign for the winning party was their optimistic marketing . Even though there were terrorist attacks (too many to count), the slowdown (where's the money, honey!) and negative attacks by the BJP - congress stood its way and showed how bright the future is. (ya ofcourse it's not that bright)

BJPs fault - as per the post elections debates and discussions were - giving a free reign to the tongue of Varun Gandhi (i already spoke about him), Narenda Modi and portraying LK Advani as the next PM. The most irritating part was the viral marketing strategies used by the BJP - go to any site, you'll find an open-mouthed Advani's picture somewhere on the righ corner of your screen. Once. Twice. Everytime. And one thing i know is that people don't like that man9not even in BJP). He's a great leader, no doubt. But nobody sees him as the prime minister (except perhaps for him).

The post elections drama followed - "the blind man "and the "female who shouts for no reason" came as the best alliance for Congress. After poor Lalu was sidelined (more due to his own faults), these leaders were the ones people were looking up to who will help congress to form a stable government. But life isn's easy! The blind man started his family soap. And the woman who shouts...did what she is best at- she shouted! And then there were fights, and fights and they are stil going on!

Who gets what is to be seen - but one things for sure. The new government has some tough days ahead.

The day after the external affairs minister Mr. S Krishna took charge - we already have riots in our country in Punjab (because of the Vienna incident). one of our neighbours is celebrating (prabhakaran's dead - thank god) and the other neighbour's in distress (Pakistan fighting the Taliban - i don't understand how the friends turned foe). and then there is also North Korea who has the guts to stand up against all the countries by testing its nuclear weapons (India wil lbe undert he pressure from the US to sign the non-proliferation treaty), and the list goes on!

So welcome Congress - the roads ahead are not smooth - Lots to do!

My best wishes are with all the oldies - ( i dnt know if any of the new ones will get the good portfolios)

Let's hope for a great future for India (and for the bank balances of the new ministers!)

Adios!

Regards,
Kunal Lodha

Is it wrong to expect! ?

I know even before you read, you are thinkin' - No kunal, it isnt wrong to expect...but you shouldn't expect TOO much!

Yeah yeah, I know! TOO much is Baaayyyd! but what exactly IS too much!?

when you call someone a friend, you do stuffs for them but all they gotta do is to hang out with people who are more fun, have good jokes to say and make fun off others behind their backs - not knowing that behind your back the same persons say disgusting things about YOU too!!!

I had a discussion about this with two other people a few days back! mr S and ms S!

We all had experienced problems with expectations - one of us experiencing it recently. And we kept telling to each other - see, you shouldn't expect this, that the world's selfish, that being alone is better, this, that, blah blah blah! I felt good to give such gyan and then what happens? I come into my room and start expecting that these people with whom I have shared my thoughts will understand why I am such a disgusting person! or rather a loser something what they call me!

I know its ironical but then that's what human tendency is. You just cant stop expecting. Okay, like me you wont be expecting much of people you talk to or share similar tastes - but you do expect it from your parents and family and if you're lucky to have some people you call friends!

You might think - 'nah man, it ain't true. I really don't expect anything from anyone. I am all fine by myself. I don't need anyone......'. But that's the biggest lie you are telling and that too not to me but to yourself. Imagine you doing everything for your roomie or friend - remembering his/her birthday, buying gifts, getting all emotional when s/he is leaving, or coming back, etc! all those emotional and foolish things you do to see that charming smile on their faces. And IF you don't get something, or you see them not spending time with you, or getting busy or just not in mood - you'll put on a brave face of understanding, go sit on your computer surfing. But in your heart, you're feeling bad. I know you do. and you know it too. That's because you expect. You expect to be loved back. You expect to be get the same or better treatment what you give to others. You expect it and accept it people!

That's what i do. I expect the same treatment - not better but just the same kind of gestures from people. Nothing more, nothing less! And there's nothing great I do that can't be given back. But then, my bigggest problem is that I am not a fun person you can hang out with right. And because being a bore is a criminal offence under "Society Laws - 101", I should be punished. I should just give and not expect back. Just because I don't fit into your scheme of things, I don't deserve to expect. I just don't deserve it...oh yeah!!

And it is wrong. Yeah, I know my blog title says that freedom means not to expect anything. but I don't know if I ll ever be able to get to that point. Iwish Icould. But I also know I wouldn't! only if Ayn Rand were alive!



Adios!

Regards,
Kunal Lodha

P.S.: My blogs getting depressing day by day. I think I need a break!! :)